Day in Pop Report for 01/03/2012

(TMZ) Katy Perry WANTED Russell Brand to file the court papers in their divorce ... because she didn't want to upset her religious parents ... sources connected to the former couple tell TMZ.

We're told ... Katy and Russell knew the relationship was on the rocks a couple of months ago -- but didn't want to give up on the marriage without making a concerted effort to work things out.

But the effort fell flat ... with both sides feeling "it just wasn't there." We're told both Katy and Russell were on board with the divorce a few weeks ago -- but they didn't want to be in town when the papers were filed ... so he went back to England and she booked it to Hawaii.

Since Katy's parents are evangelical Christians, we're told she didn't want to be the one to "officially" end the marriage by filing the docs ... since she was raised to believe divorce is wrong.

After he filed the docs, Russell released a statement Friday insisting the two will "remain friends."

(TMZ) Usher is firing back at his ex-wife -- insisting he's a good dad who deserves to see his kids ... and NEVER cancelled her Saks 5th Avenue credit card.

TMZ broke the story ... Tameka Raymond asked a Georgia court last month for full custody of their twokids -- claiming Usher has continually dropped the ball as a parent ... failing to get her permission to travel with their kids, hiring nannies without her approval ... the list goes on.

Tameka also claimed Usher callously closed her Saks 5th Avenue credit card -- and now she can't take advantage of the "special benefits" the card offers.

But Usher claims it's all BS -- filing his own response in the ongoing custody battle ... asking a judge to reject Tameka's request for full custody, on grounds her allegations are false.

Usher and Tameka currently share joint physical custody of the kids.

As TMZ previously reported, Tameka has also tried numerous times to get the judge to force Usher to submit to a drug test. So far, no luck.

We reached out to both sides for comment -- so far, no word back. A trial date has been set for February 27.

(popmusiclife) Lady Gaga brought her acclaimed stage show to Times Square for New Year's Eve.

The pop superstar played before a million people in the city, and many more saw her sing just minutes before the calendar flipped into 2012.

Gaga performed her latest single, "Marry The Night," and the title track to "Born This Way," before helping NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg push the button to drop the ball in the Square to ring in the New Year.

(TMZ) Cops were called to Lindsay Lohan's Venice Beach pad January 1st -- after a strange, unidentified man came a-knockin' ... and Lindsay freaked the hell out.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, the man -- an older gentleman -- arrived at her home around 6:30pm and began knocking on the front door.

We're told Lindsay came to the door and asked what he wanted -- and the man responded cryptically ... that he needed to speak with her.

Unnerved, Lindsay asked the man to leave, but he refused, demanding she open the door. Police received a call minutes later about a trespasser on Lindsay's property. It's unclear if Lindsay made the call.

According to law enforcement sources, cops showed up soon after and arrested the man for trespassing. The man is currently being booked.

The wait is almost over for Tim McGraw fans, as Curb will release his new studio album, Emotional Traffic, on January 24th.

Curb sent over these details: Creatively collaborating on the production with Bryon Gallimore his longtime producer whose fingerprints are consistently found throughout the remarkable McGraw dynasty of 32 #1 singles and 44 million units of music sold, Emotional Traffic leaves little doubt of the foundation material McGraw's now legendary career has been built-in. It's the artistic brick and mortar of great songs and a great talent.

The new 12 track set fast lanes with McGraw's latest #1 single, Felt Good On My Lips, certified digital gold. His current single, Better Than I Used To Be, is now climbing the charts and is also included here. Of the sessions that produced the new music, McGraw noted in an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer on August 9: " one of the best song I've ever recorded and certainly one of the best records we've ever made."

(TMZ) "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler is taking no chances with his new home in Maui -- he's brought in an expert to bless the home.

In the photos, Tyler and his fiancιe Erin Brady can be seen in Maui yesterday, partaking in some kind of ceremony with a woman ... who we're told is a local religious official.

Tyler and Brady have been seen all over Hawaii lately with Brady sporting a massive rock ... much to the chagrin of Tyler's family. We're told they were upset they only heard about the engagement AFTER he popped the question.

(TMZ) "Love & Hip Hop" star Kimbella Vanderhee tells TMZ, Erica Mena wasn't edited to look like the bad guy during their massive hair-pulling cat fight in this week's episode -- Erica WAS the bad guy ... and VH1 just showed her for who she truly is.

As we first reported, Erica claims VH1 editors clipped the show to make her look like the villain -- when she appeared to unleash an unprovoked verbal attack on Kimbella, accusing her of cheapening the video vixen industry by agreeing to work for pennies. Kimbella flipped, throwing a glass at Erica ... and the fight blew up from there. You've all seen the fight footage ... it's awesome.

But now, Kimbella's coming to the defense of VH1 -- claiming producers didn't misrepresent Erica on the show ... the fight happened exactly the way everyone saw it on television.

Kimbella tells us, "VH1 didn't do editing on anything with [Erica]. That's who she is" -- insisting she's using the fight for publicity ... to boost her struggling career.

But Erica's unfazed -- telling us, "I wish her well and much success in 2012. Have a happy new year!" Still no word from VH1.

(TMZ) Getting sued for $35,000 definitely does not feel so good to rapper Mase -- especially when he claims he doesn't even have any obligation to pay the money in the first place!

Mase has been fighting an ongoing legal battle with Aydin and Company, a jeweler in Atlanta, since the summer. According to legal docs filed in Georgia, they claim Mase owes them $35,000 dating alllllll the way back to 2005.

According to court filings, the jewelers haven't been able to serve Mase with legal papers after trying multiple times at his Georgia home -- each time being turned away by staff who say he isn't there. They claim he's been ducking them for months and they had a process server file an affidavit in the case ... stating Mase is "evading service."

For his part, Mase filed papers asking for the suit to be dismissed ... claiming improper service and the fact that he never signed the "alleged contract at issue in case."

The jewelers want their money, attorneys fees and 1.5% interest per month on the money he owes.

(Webster) Country's Family Reunion Salute to the Kornfield will premiere on RFD-TV beginning on Friday, January 6 at 7 P.M. CST/8 P.M. Eastern.*

The show features the beloved cast members from the long-running television show HEE HAW with Roy Clark, Buddy Alan (Owens) and Bill Anderson, and of course, a stellar line-up of iconic music guests and country bent humor that were staples of this cultural phenomena for over 25 years.

RFD-TV, "Rural America's Most Important Network," will air portions of the show each week throughout the month of January during the same weekly time slots.

(TMZ) For the first time in who knows how long, DMX had a run-in with police that didn't result in another mug shot -- but it'll still cost him ...

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, X was pulled over in Hollywood last week for not wearing a seat belt. Cops ticketed him and his assistant ... and the two were let go.

In case that wasn't clear, DMX WAS LET GO. No handcuffs, no jail, no nothing. Just a small slap on the wrist ... followed by sweet, sweet freedom.

X tells us, "Just a minor ticket no biggie. A quick learning lesson about not wearing a seat belt. I will handle and pay for it." The rapper adds, "This would be the only reason I come in contact with the police because I am a changed man."

(TMZ) Howard Gordon, the Executive Producer of "Homeland" and "24" has been sued by the family of a man who was killed after Gordon's wife struck him with the family car.

Here's what we know ... Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Gordon's wife, Cambria, was driving in Santa Monica on July 20th when her cell phone fell off the seat onto the floor of the car. Cambria reached down to retrieve the phone when her car struck 83-year-old pedestrian William Howard Smerling.

Smerling was taken to the hospital, where he hung on but died a month later. According to the lawsuit, Smerling had the right of way and Cambria was negligent by taking her eyes off the road. Howard is being sued because he's the registered owner of the car along with his wife. Under California law, the registered owners are responsible for the misdeeds of those who drive with their permission.

And law enforcement sources tell us ... Cambria will be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. The maximum penalty is 1 year in jail, but typically first offenders end up on probation.

In her favor ... our law enforcement sources tell us Cambria stopped immediately at the scene and acknowledged responsibility, and she's been fully cooperative and very remorseful.